Caves Valley welcomes
all of you who cherish the ancient and honorable game of golf.
Ancient in that it is one of the oldest games
known to man, its exact beginnings lost in the mists of time. But durable as
only a grand sport played in pleasurable surroundings could be.
Honorable in that it is the remaining sport in
which the competitors must govern their own actions. Without honor, it does
not exist as a viable game. Caves Valley is dedicated to the protection and
preservation of the game as a source of pleasure for our members and their
friends. The Club rejects the idea - which pervades so much of sport in our
time - that standards must be lowered and boorish behavior tolerated on our
grounds.
But why Maryland? And why now?
Maryland because it truly is the land of
pleasant living. With its rolling hills and lush valleys, it offers a golfer's
dream of challenge and reward. Now because a dedicated group of Maryland
business and professional leaders (native-born and adopted as well) had a
grand vision. We would create a course open to successful, mobile, interesting
people of many different backgrounds.
And we would honor the grand traditions of the
game. Amateurs would be recognized as the backbone of golf. The rules of the
United States Golf Association would be honored. The Club would hold itself
out to be a repository for the legacy of the past. Given the magnificent
confluence of land, sky and skill which produced this course and club, we
would be remiss if we failed to take our custodianship seriously. And we do
intend to protect the qualities which attracted us to this place initially.
Many participated in the initial development of
Caves Valley. All were guided by the unified goal of preparing a course and
club which would revere the basics of the game: Sportsmanship, camaraderie,
enjoyment of the outdoors, conviviality in the clubhouse, excellence in
service.
A hundred years from now, when men and women
gather on this high ground in the rolling hills of Maryland, we hope they will
conclude that we built an enduring foundation for golf played by those who
love the game.
Reg Murphy, on behalf of
the Board of Directors, July 1991
